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EXPERT PERSPECTIVES Supporting a Just and Climate-Resilient Transition in South Africa
The document argues that a just transition in South Africa must move beyond simple decarbonization to address structural inequalities rooted in the minerals-energy complex (MEC). It proposes a 'transformative resilience' framework based on three pillars: a green decent work agenda, expanded social protection (such as a universal basic income guarantee), and radical land reform. The essays detail specific vulnerabilities, including the marginalization of women in ecosystem-based adaptation, the mental health burdens of climate change on Black communities, and the precariousness of informal waste pickers. Sectoral analyses emphasize the need for inclusive food systems, urban drought resilience in cities like Cape Town, and the integration of renewable energy to support agricultural productivity and rural development.
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Document type: Report
Declaration of the SOUTH AFRICAN TAX JUSTICE WORKING GROUP and allied organisations
The South African Tax Justice Working Group and allied organisations call for progressive tax reforms to combat extreme inequality and tax evasion. They urge the South African government to use its 2025 G20 presidency to champion international corporate tax reform and a wealth tax on the ultra-rich, while calling on the National Treasury to shift away from regressive domestic taxes like VAT.
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Document type: Statement
Grievance Mechanism – Johannesburg
The SUNCASA project in Johannesburg utilizes the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) as its grievance mechanism for labour disputes. The project workforce is employed by the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP), which coordinates with the CCMA to resolve issues such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, and harassment. Access to the CCMA is free and available to direct project participants via phone, email, or in-person visits, with the mechanism being communicated to workers daily during toolbox talks.
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Document type: Guide
Proposal for IGF New Delhi
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) should integrate sustainable development into its New Delhi agenda. The proposal highlights the ICT industry's carbon footprint, the need for inclusive participation of the world's poor, and the potential for multi-stakeholder governance models to improve global environmental governance. It cites increasing global attention to climate change and the role of ICTs in both contributing to and mitigating environmental degradation as key drivers for this thematic shift.
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Document type: Briefing
The Military Veterans Act of 2011: Promising More Than can be Delivered?
The briefing examines the Military Veterans Act of 2011 in South Africa, noting that while it aims to provide comprehensive socio-economic support and dignity to veterans, the Department of Military Veterans faces significant hurdles in funding, staffing, and implementation.
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Document type: Briefing
ISS 3rd International Conference Travel Information
The document outlines various leisure tours for conference participants in South Africa, ranging from short local trips like the Lion Park tour (R575.00) to a three-day Classic Kruger National Park Safari (R7700.00). It details activities such as game drives in Pilanesberg and Kruger National Parks, visits to the Elephant Sanctuary, and an eco-adventure canopy tour in the Magaliesberg Mountains.
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Document type: Guide
2162 ISS Monograph 117 Mozambique.indd
The report examines the reception of 250,000 to 350,000 Mozambican refugees in South Africa during the 1980s, highlighting a paradox where ethnic solidarity among Shangaan-speakers coexisted with severe economic exploitation. It details the creation of a 'third tier' of undocumented labour in the lowveld's commercial farming sector and critiques the UNHCR's flawed repatriation programme in the 1990s. Despite subsequent South African government amnesties granting permanent residence to 176,648 refugees by 2000, the author argues that many former refugees remained a 'de facto undocumented' underclass due to systemic xenophobia and structural economic dependence on cheap labour.
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Document type: Report
2162 ISS Monograph 117 Mozambique.indd
The report examines the migration of Congolese nationals to South Africa, noting a transition from elite migration during the late apartheid era to a larger influx of middle-class, educated refugees fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite high levels of human capital, these migrants face significant social dislocation, high unemployment, and systemic discrimination, often finding themselves in survivalist informal labor such as car guarding and hair cutting. The text highlights the role of ethnic 'tribes' as survival networks and the pervasive corruption within the Department of Home Affairs.
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Document type: Report
SA’s elections are a chance to advance gender equality
The document highlights the gap between women's high voter registration numbers and their limited representation in political leadership and skilled employment in South Africa. It calls on young people to use the 2019 elections to force gender equality onto the political agenda, noting that women remain more likely to be unemployed and are under-represented in the top leadership of the ANC, DA, and EFF.
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Document type: Statement
2162 ISS Monograph 117 Mozambique.indd
The provided text is a collection of 111 endnotes and citations from a research paper by Jonny Steinberg. These notes reference various studies, theses, and reports concerning the migration of Mozambicans to South Africa, their legal struggles, social integration in rural and urban areas (such as Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town), and the economic activities of African migrants in the informal sector. The citations cover topics including the UNHCR's voluntary repatriation programs, the impact of withholding legal status on employment, and the role of social networks in survival strategies for refugees.
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Document type: Research paper
Monograph_soccer_2010_for print.indd
The document examines how the 2010 FIFA World Cup created opportunities for corruption and conflicts of interest in South Africa. It details irregularities in stadium tenders in Johannesburg, Durban, and the Eastern Cape, and critiques the lack of transparency in FIFA's global operations and its relationship with exclusive suppliers like Match Event Services. The report argues that the pressure to meet FIFA's stringent requirements often led the South African government to prioritize the interests of the event organizers over the long-term public interest and developmental needs of the host cities.
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Document type: Report
crimefinal.qxd
The provided text is a list of contributors and their professional affiliations, primarily focusing on researchers and officials associated with crime, justice, and safety programs in South Africa.
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Document type: Report
land-court-bill-b-112021-1-natural-justice-8d69a76719d9943a.pdf
Natural Justice, a non-profit organization, submitted comments on the Land Court Bill [B11 – 2021] to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services. The organization supports the establishment of a specialist Land Court and Land Court of Appeal to address the failures of the previous Land Claims Court, but recommends amendments to the composition of the judiciary to ensure contextual expertise is not lost.
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Document type: Statement
After Capture: Notes on the current situation and some thoughts for democratising the future
The author argues that the Jacob Zuma administration transitioned toward tyranny by systematically undermining the South African Constitution and rule of law to facilitate 'Radical Economic Transformation'. This project involved 'institutional capture' of the SABC and the weakening of state bodies like the National Treasury, SARS, and the Hawks to enable corruption and the creation of a 'shadow state' influenced by the Gupta family. In response, a rejuvenated civil society—comprising diverse coalitions of trade unions, churches, and business formations—emerged, utilizing litigation, social mobilization, and reports like 'The Betrayal of the Promise' to challenge state capture and defend public administration.
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Document type: Research paper
Dialogue Series on the Capacity of the State
The report details five dialogues focused on state capacity in South Africa, specifically addressing the energy transition, freight and public transport, the criminal justice system, and water security, concluding with a synthesis on public sector professionalization. A recurring theme is the detrimental impact of state capture and political interference on institutional memory and technical expertise. The document argues that state capability requires not just administrative skills but the agency to 'reach into society' and coordinate complex projects. Key recommendations include reforming senior appointment processes to insulate the public service from politics, creating a single administration to reduce fragmentation, and rethinking the municipal fiscal framework to ensure the viability of basic service delivery.
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Document type: Report
Draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service Submission of Public Comments
PARI supports the South African government's goal to professionalise the public service but argues that the draft National Implementation Framework is too aspirational and focuses excessively on inputs rather than outputs. The organization recommends establishing the Public Service Commission (PSC) as a definitive check on the appointment and removal of senior officials to prevent corruption and patronage. PARI further suggests a 'covering in mechanism' for incremental reform, a shift toward permanent contracts for Directors-General, and a stronger emphasis on consequence management and performance-based career progression to restore institutional capacity and public trust.
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Document type: Statement
REPORT
The report documents a conference hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) focused on the systemic nature of state capture in South Africa. It details the erosion of institutions like SARS and the PIC, discusses the role of commissions of inquiry (Zondo, Nugent, and PIC), and explores strategies for recovery including 'lawfare', parliamentary oversight, and public advocacy. The document culminates in a Civil Society Charter that outlines a comprehensive program for institutional reform, whistleblower protection, and the pursuit of accountability for those implicated in state capture.
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Document type: Report
Working Towards Collaborative Local Government in South Africa
The guide provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa's local government system, detailing the roles of the local community, political structures, and administration. It explains the planning, implementation, and oversight cycle—specifically the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the budget, and the Service Delivery Budget and Implementation Plan (SDBIP)—and offers practical strategies for citizens to hold municipalities accountable. It also covers the legal rights to basic services, housing, and spatial justice, while outlining the mechanisms for reporting misconduct and challenging administrative decisions.
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Document type: Guide
pari-brochure-18022025-8-lowres-1-0c31b9be34440117.pdf
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is a Johannesburg-based research institute that conducts social science research and advocacy to improve democratic governance and state capacity in South Africa. Its work is organised into five primary programmes: Land Governance, State Reform, Local Government, Just Transition, and COMPACT (a EU-funded initiative for municipal accountability). PARI collaborates with academic institutions, civil society, and state bodies to address issues such as tenure security, public procurement corruption, municipal financial sustainability, and the decarbonisation of the power sector.
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Document type: Guide
HUNGRY FOR ELECTRICITY
The report examines the gap between South Africa's high electrification rates and the actual ability of poor households to afford enough electricity to improve their lives. It introduces the concept of 'universal enabling access' and the 'Minimum Threshold Level of Consumption' (MTLC), arguing that current policies—such as the 50kWh Free Basic Electricity (FBE) allowance—are insufficient to catalyze socioeconomic development. The authors propose a 'Food First Approach,' suggesting that all households below the upper-bound poverty line should receive 350kWh of free electricity monthly to prevent a trade-off between energy and nutrition.
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Document type: Report